Market research

Castor oil and fractions market in Middle Africa

$Castor oil and fractions market in Middle Africa$

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

Report language:

Report language:

Submission method: to your account

File format: docx, xlsx

Single Report

$500

Instant access to detailed data on one specific market
Ideal for one-off tasks: niche assessments, presentations, investment decisions
Available in Excel and Word in 15 minutes after purchase
Cheaper than subscription, but each market requires a separate purchase

Best if you know exactly what you need

Buy a single report

Platform Subscription

from$600

Complete and unlimited data access across products and regions
Includes continuous data updates during subscription period
Download reports instantly in Word, and Excel formats
More cost-effective for multiple markets or regular analysis

Ideal for regular data users

View pricing plans

"Middle Africa" region includes following countries:

Angola

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Sao Tome and Principe

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the castor oil market volume in Middle Africa increased from 926.5 t to 963.8 t. This growth was driven by rising demand for industrial and medicinal applications, particularly in Cameroon where large-scale castor bean cultivation for oil extraction expanded. The entry of new players focused on producing high-yield castor beans for biofuels, supported by major supply contracts, stimulated local production. Additionally, the diversification of uses into green chemistry and polyamides, backed by investments from companies like Arkema which doubled its global castor-based resin capacity, reinforced demand through regional supply chains.

After 2020, market growth slowed and stabilized around 962‑967 t. In 2021, the implementation of environmental regulations in Europe, such as used oil management rules in France, may have indirectly affected import flows into the region. Simultaneously, growing consumer preference for bio and natural products sustained demand for chemically unmodified castor oil, favoring local producers adopting cold-press extraction technologies. By 2022, strengthened investments in castor bean production for biofuels and the emergence of new applications in bioplastics and polyamides continued to support the sector, with the market volume reaching 966.8 t in 2023.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Middle Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Middle Africa in kind, 2018-2023, t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, kg
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, kg
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, kg
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, kg
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, kg
  2. 8.1.2. In value, $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, kg
  2. 8.2.2. In value, $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production castor oil and fractions in Middle Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of castor oil and fractions, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of castor oil and fractions, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Castor oil and fractions production in Middle Africa has increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, production reached 933.9 t, showing a modest 1.0% increase compared to 2019. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 918.0 t, which also saw the largest decline of 0.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Middle Africa in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.2%)	0.7%	1.0%	0.5%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports castor oil and fractions from Middle Africa

According to market overview data, there were no exports of castor oil and fractions from Middle Africa between 2017 and 2020.

Imports castor oil and fractions to Middle Africa

Imports in kind, kg

Castor oil and fractions imports into Middle Africa have risen for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 29 919 kg, representing an 8.8% increase from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 295.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 58.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Middle Africa in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	12.7%	222.7%	8.8%	58.2%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the main sources for castor oil and fractions imports into Middle Africa were China (43.8% of imports by volume), India (22.1%), and Portugal (19.0%). Together, these three countries accounted for 84.9% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Middle Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, $ US

The market showed significant fluctuations during this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 25 112 US dollars, then rebounded sharply in 2020 to 57 126 US dollars, marking a 127.5% increase from the previous year. The peak occurred in 2017, creating a 3.8-fold difference between the highest and lowest years. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 52.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Middle Africa in value, 2017-2020, $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(52.5%)	(44.6%)	127.5%	(15.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the primary sources for castor oil and fractions imports by value were Portugal (47.8% of import value), France (21.6%), and Belgium (14.8%). These three countries together represented 84.2% of total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Middle Africa in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io